Taking my time to pause at his ample pant bulge. Still in shock a man like him would even take the time to see if I was okay, let alone explain himself.
“Perfect,” he rasps. His lip quivering into another satisfied smile.
“Better get some breakfast into yourself. I’ll let Mrs. Corbett know it’s two not four for the trail ride,” he says, sounding all professional again.
Wait, what?
“A trail ride?” I ask, gulping. Not wanting to ruin a second chance with Mack. But already freaking out if he means what I think he does.
“Sure. We usually hike the long way to the stables, then ride the rest of the way,” he says, giving a little nod of enthusiasm.
“You ever been horseback riding?” he asks.
I feel my head turning slowly one way and then the other.
My body’s telling him no I haven’t, but my mind’s already racing with the old memory of my accident.
“It’s easy,” he assures me. “I can show you how, but only if you want me to?” he says, lifting his brow and his eyes widen with the question.
Instantly making me forget the past, letting me see a light in his eyes that suggests maybe riding more than just horses.
But if anyone can get me back on a horse, it’s Mack.
In fact. If it means we can start over, I’d walk on hot lava if he wanted me to.
And if he’s talking about learning something else along the way, then I think he’s the only man I’d want to take lessons in that from too.
CHAPTER EIGHT
Mack
“Well, what was all that about?” Mrs. Corbett quizzes me as I brush past her.
She’s been hovering by the stairs ever since Tina overheard us and ran off.
I wait as long as I can before going after Tina, not wanting to let old Mrs. Corbett see just how much it cuts me up inside to see Tina upset.
Especially over something so stupid out of my mouth.
My instinct telling me I need to get Tina and me alone again. Away from her mom, away from this house even.
Just for a few hours…give me a chance to get to know her in the way I know she needs…
Seeing her so upset, and all over something so stupid makes me more determined than ever to claim her properly.
“I didn’t know Ms. Tanner and Ben were skipping the trail ride and camp out,” I hear myself reply.
Shifting the focus of the conversation away from what just happened.
Sounding all business compared to what we were talking about earlier before all this nonsense started.
“I told you,” Mrs. Corbett says, gripping my forearm, stopping me from going. “She and Ben went off for a walk this morning. They did mention the picnic instead of the trail ride, but then I must’ve…forgot…,” she breaks off.
Both of us grow silent a moment before I shrug it off and turn to go, I let her know I’ll be prepping the gear.
“So…it’ll just be you and the young lass going?” Mrs. Corbett asks.
The tone of caution, concern, and curiosity were all ringing in her voice.
“Ah…yeah, I guess so,” I remark. Trying to sound like it’s the most natural thing in the world.
Tina is an adult, after all, and I’ve done hundreds, maybe even thousands of tours and trail camps with all types of people.
But the way the old woman stares at me gives me a chill.
Her mouth curving into a warm smile and that knowing glint in her eye tells me she might have just figured out who this lowly ranch hand really is interested in after all.
But I don’t want to waste time giving her more fuel for her already overactive imagination.
“So, it’ll be two for dinner back here, not three,” I remind her. Keeping it sounding like it’s just another day at the office.
When really, my insides are in a knot. My need to be alone with Tina is overpowering.
My need to be inside her stronger than ever after seeing her laid out on the bed like that just now.
And knowing she totally misunderstood what she heard. Seeing how upset it made her.
It means I need to make it up to her as soon as I can, and in private.
“Okay then,” Mrs. Corbett sighs, but she’s holding me with her gaze before she wags a finger at me, smiling.
“I’ve known you since ye were a lad old enough to put over my knee…,” she reminds me. “…And I’ve never seen you so wound up since those two contest people came.”
She doesn’t say anymore because she doesn’t have to.
“Thanks for taking care of their luggage, by the way,” is my only reply, changing the subject as quickly as I can. “…And for parking the truck round back last night. I don’t know what I’d do without you, Mrs. Corbett,” I tell her truthfully.
Always knowing that flattery is the only way to distract her whenever she starts getting ideas in her head about me finally settling down.